Tag: Dexter Pittman

The Heat invested nearly three seasons in Dexter Pittman’s development.

If it pays off for Pittman, it will pay off for the Grizzlies.

Pittman was dealt before Thursday’s trading deadline, along with a second-round pick, in exchange for Memphis’s trade exception and a foreign center (Ricky Sanchez) who was drafted back in 2005 will likely never play in the United States.

While the Heat shot around in Indiana, veteran center/forward Chris Andersen was in Miami — according to reports — working out for Pat Riley, and Dexter Pittman was still with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League.

That means that Miami will have only 12 men available for Tuesday’s game against the Pacers, and all will dress. Erik Spoelstra did not express concern about this, because he rarely plays …

There’s less of Dexter Pittman these days, which was a necessary part of his progression.

Still, there hasn’t been any more opportunity for the third-year center on the court.

Pittman has played a total of 11 minutes over four games, so Erik Spoelstra said the Heat has had discussions with Pittman and his agent for the past couple of weeks about playing another NBA Development League stint in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The competition for the back end of the Heat’s roster in training camp may be more intense than the competition between the Heat and Southeast Division opponents this season.

Monday, Miami officially added former Knicks center Josh Harrellson on a non-guaranteed contract, giving him a chance to compete with 2011-12 project Mickell Gladness and former second-round picks Jarvis Varnado and Robert Dozier for a frontcourt spot.

Credit to Shandel Richardson of the Sun-Sentinel for the story on James Jones considering retirement.

Jones is a deliberate person, so expect him to give that plenty of thought. He has many interests outside basketball, including finance, but he’s so competitive that I’ll be surprised if he gives it up.

Here’s a rundown of other Heat role players:

Mike Miller — Also considering retirement, but he hasn’t decided anything yet, in part because …

In Game 5 of the Heat’s second round series against Indiana, Dexter Pittman injured Lance Stephenson’s collarbone with a flagrant foul in garbage time.

That not only earned him a three-game suspension, but led to many in the public and media taking shots at him, accusing him of reckless goonery, and drawing the conclusion that his aggression was in retaliation for Stephenson’s antics — which includeda choke gestures while LeBron James …

Erik Spoelstra knew the subject of the day, the suspensions of Udonis Haslem (one game) and Dexter Pittman (three games). So, in his pre-shootaround press conference — which itself is a departure from the way the team usually does business — Spoelstra issued a statement before taking questions.

“We’ll accept the decision,” Spoelstra said. “We don’t agree with it. We totally support UD as a player and as a family member. …